The Cork footballers may seem like they’re further off the pace than ever, but Eoin Cadogan says they may be a lot closer than you think.

Although they’re struggling for form, Cadogan feels that they may well “erupt” some day soon and woe betide the opposition that stands in their way.

Having lost to Tipperary in last year’s Championship for the first time since 1944, they were within minutes of bridging the gap to 1960 and their last loss to Waterford on Saturday night in Dungarvan only to pull through with a point to spare.

It’s only two years ago that they pushed then All-Ireland champions Kerry all the way in the Munster final, losing a replay after being very unfortunate not to win the drawn game.

Reflecting on where they might be now had they got the desired result back then, Cadogan said: "I've no doubt things would be different because we would have gone into an All-Ireland quarter-final with a Munster medal in our back pocket.

“Like, ultimately, I know I keep making reference to performance and stuff like that and it can sound cliched, but you're going out to win.

"Anyone who plays at inter-county level or club level, you don't go out just for the sake of 'let's go out and perform, lads'. You go out to win. You go out to try and win silverware.

“That's why you're busting your balls seven nights a week, recovering, eating well, not socialising and then when your performance doesn't reflect that or you're just scraping over the line, it can be extremely frustrating.

“I've this thing in my head, that the frustration is just going to erupt at some stage and we're just going to go out and we're just going to blitz someone.

“When that happens, I don't know but it's like poking a dog. Keep poking him…"

Cadogan had to sit out Saturday’s game through injury but says he’ll be available for the Munster semi-final against Tipperary on June 10.

While the criticism is flying in light of Saturday’s performance, he insists it wasn’t any different even when the team won three League titles and an All-Ireland in 2010 under Conor Counihan.

Former Cork player and manager Conor Counihan (Image: Matt Browne/Sportsfile)

“There never has been any love. It's not there from a media perspective.

“It was never good enough under Counihan…'Counihan didn't do this' or whatever the case may be. ‘Ye should have won this, ye should have won more, ye didn't play that way’.

“There were a lot of different factors after that. Ciaran Sheehan going to Australia. You're talking about top class players. Different players finishing up or retiring.

“So the whole dynamic, it's a very different identity. And to form an identity you have to start winning, and that confidence and identity starts to form then."

While acknowledging that Saturday night’s performance wasn’t up to scratch, the 30-year-old is relishing having a shot at a Munster final spot.

“To describe how I am feeling is hard one to describe because I missed a lot of National League.

“There is a lot of negativity attached to us, I know the work that is being put in, know the work that I have put in myself personally.

“The next two weeks, as much as the negativity is out there, I can't wait to get back training because we have Tipp at home in two weeks' time, they are going to be there as favourites, they are not going to be shaking in their boots but I am looking forward to it, whatever that throws up.”